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A group of 30 students from Kenton School in Newcastle have been given a taste of a career in chemistry after visiting leading North East pharmaceutical firm, Specials Clinical Manufacturing.

The visit, organised by The Industrial Trust as part of the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) partnership programme, gave the Year 9 students - who will begin their science GCSE later this year - a behind-the-scenes tour of Specials' state-of-the-art facilities in Prudhoe.  They also gained practical hands-on experience of working within the science sector.

Ben Haddon, North East area manager for The Industrial Trust, who organised the visit on behalf of the RSC, commented: "Visits to companies like Specials play a crucial role in both enthusing the region's young people and raising their learning and career aspirations.  By linking the science theories taught in the classroom to their application in the work place, we can help students better appreciate the wide variety of challenging careers available to them right here in the North East."

The RSC partnership programme aims to widen the participation and appreciation of chemistry and chemical sciences among young people.  By engaging students, the project works to increase the number of people studying chemistry in further and higher education and, consequently, choosing a career within the industry.

Paul Graham, quality director for Specials Clinical Manufacturing, gave the students a tour of the company's £5 million, 17,000 sq ft facility in the heart of Northumberland where medical products, from capsules to creams and clinical trial doses, are manufactured and packaged.

The students, all aged 14, witnessed the inner workings of a sterile manufacturing environment first hand, including getting ‘gowned up', sterilising their hands and donning protective clothing before entering the facility, a process that Specials' employees undertake every day.

Paul commented:  "Science and technology are both rapidly growing sectors in the North East and we're always keen to showcase the fantastic facilities we have at Specials.  If we can encourage more young people to pursue a career in science by opening their eyes to the pharmaceutical industry, it's certainly a worthwhile endeavor.  We want to play our part in enthusing young people about what is on offer right here in the North East."

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